New Nightforce Competition SR 4.5x24mm Service Rifle Scope

Nightforce has released an all-new 4.5x24mm scope for Service Rifle Competition. Nightforce’s new Competition SR Fixed 4.5x24mm riflescope is purpose-built for the CMP’s new Service Rifle rules that allow scopes with max 4.5X magnification, and max objective lens diameter of 34mm. Nightforce made this new scope quite light in weight (just 15.4 ounces), recognizing that Service Rifles will now be limited to 11.5 pounds for optic and gun combined. MSRP is $1950.00.

FIELD TEST COMING — Accurateshooter.com will get one of these new 4.5x24mm Nightforce scopes for evaluation soon. We will provide a complete field test, and our tester Dennis Santiago will use the new scope in actual Service Rifle competition.

The new NF Competition SR 4.5x24mm scope provides 100 MOA of both elevation and windage adjustment, with .25 MOA clicks and 20 MOA per revolution. Parallax is fixed at 200 yards. The main tube is 30mm. This scope features a handy ZeroStop on the elevation knob that allows instant, positive return to the shooter’s chosen zero setting.

The new non-illuminated SR-1 reticle features heavy posts at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions, and a 10 MOA center circle with 8 MOA crosshair. The Competition SR Fixed 4.5x24mm will retail at $1950.00 and the UnimountTM SR will retail at $260.00.

Holy cow, that’s a lot for a fixed power scope. A Nightforce 1-4×24 (on which this looks like it’s based) is only around $1,400, even the unicorn-like 2.5-10×24 is not much more when they come up for sale.

I wonder how long before Trijicon slaps a suitable reticle and external turrets on an ACOG?

It’s interesting that NF came out with this product.
I decided to test an upper built to conform with the new rules at a match on this past Saturday and learned a lot. The scope was a Leupold 1.5-4x. I found that from a standing position the scope is best used at low power. Higher magnification tends to show a whole lot of wobble, so it’s entirely too distracting. In sitting and prone positions higher magnification is usable. So, the fixed 4.5x magnification may be more a hindrance than a help. My guess is that I’m not the only shooter who will have had this experience.
I wish the manufacturers the best in sorting this out. Getting the reticle right is going to take work. The NF reticle looks like it will be about right. Crosshairs, as my Leopold has, are a bit busy for my taste.
It’s going to take a while to get it all right.

The Marine on competitive rifle podcast has already won first place at a service rifle competition with a Vortex. I would stick with vortex you get a lifetime warranty. That Nightforce is Not Friendly to your wallet

Ok everyone is suggesting other optics, I will do the same, IOR Valdada 1.5-8×26 35mm at 1695.00 with the mount.This scope covers every aspect of service rifle needs and more. At this price you get glass from SCHOTT GLASSWERK made in Germany ( if you never looked trough one IOR scope you have to try to believe…it is the clearest scope I have ever used, even compared side by side with NF There is only one benefit I see from the NF scope its the weight at 15oz its very light… IOR is 28 oz.

First of all theirs no reason for a variable. Anybody who has shot smallbore with a 24X or higher standing realizes this. The AMU is using this scope with good success. The zero stop knobs are a plus. The rectical seems to be working. And most importantly they are repeatable, a rare find in a low powered scope. That said im quit happy with my Leupold 4x 33mm with stony point knobs. A $350.00 rig. Getting these scope`s far enough forward and the right height is a bit of a trick but worth the trouble.

Mike – max power is 4.5. You can’t use a 1-8, even if you keep it turned down.

To folks suggesting a bigger objective than 24mm – 24mm gives a 5.3mm exit pupil. Unless you are shooting matches in near-dark, that’s plenty of light. The bigger objective (34, etc) will just introduce the possibility of more parallax error. A less-forgiving eyebox is a GOOD thing for a fixed-parallax SR scope.

The parallax on the Leupold 4X 33mm is factory set at 150Y and not a issue in the least at 600. With the low power and scope well forward I have no parallax issues at all. Shot 600 today as i do every Thursday, 200 and 199. Some of the tactical scopes are set at 50Y, that may be a different story? I cant say.